Overview
- The district posted an outbreak notice on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and the Texas Department of State Health Services has officially confirmed the case cluster.
- Superintendent Todd Davis told media the high school has three confirmed cases and four suspected cases, which is roughly 1.2% of the 573-student enrollment.
- School leaders say the cluster may be tied to a student who attended the Oct. 3 homecoming dance and the district first sent a precautionary notice to families on Oct. 8.
- Shepherd ISD says it is monitoring the situation, has not announced school-wide closures, and is asking parents to review vaccination or immunity records and watch for symptoms during the 10–21 day incubation window.
- Chickenpox causes fever, fatigue, headache and an itchy blister-like rash and is highly contagious; the vaccine is the primary prevention and the district is advising families to contact school nurses with questions or concerns.